Actual Facebook statistics report that over five million accounts have been created and over
70% of those accounts are accessed every day (Cohler 2005). The reasons why users join
Facebook that we explore in our survey fall into two broad categories. Category A from Figure 2
involves joining Facebook due to friend recommendations and peer pressure. Category B from
Figure 2 relates to the usefulness of Facebook in meeting new people, keeping in touch, getting
help in courses, finding old friends, and making new friends. Our results indicate that most
students joined Facebook for reasons belonging to both categories. The distinction of these
categories is important because the reasons in Category B suggest that those surveyed were well
aware of how Facebook could be used and some of the advantages of using it. These users
probably view Facebook like a social network and enhanced directory tool to aid in various
social connecting. From the reasons listed in Category A, we may be able to conclude that other
influences exist besides the usefulness of the tool that encouraged users to join.